You are forgetting one important fact: Not everyone pays for proprietary
software. I truly doubt that there is a computer user in this world unaware
of the fact that a copy of any proprietary software can be obtained free of
charge.
Those who pay for software, pay for it willingly.
I am also convinced that in world where software is free programmers can make
a living. Did you obtain a copy of Linux for free? Ofcourse you did. But that
doesn't mean that developers weren't paid to write Linux. Red Hat pays
programmers to keep developing Linux. I'm also fairly sure that they do the
same for some GNU packages such as GCC. Don't forget that Red Hat got that
money selling the same free software they fund.
That hyptotetical talented programmer would not stop getting money. There is
no such thing as finished program, and thats why someone (Red Hat) would pay
him to keep adding new features to his program (Linux). And even if the
program is flawless (lie) I'm sure someone would be happy to employ such a
talented programmer to write new software.
